HEADACHES

Parikh AS , Stouch B , and Coughlin PM
The effects of OMT on vital signs during headache.

There was an OMT treatment group and controls including a sham treatment group and an untreated group. Vital signs were taken before and after each treatment. Sinus headache patients receiving OMT had an increase in oxygen saturation after treatment. Migraine headache patients had a lower respiration rate and lower systolic blood pressure after treatment. These findings suggest that OMT is effective in helping to relieve tension with concomitant changes in certain vital signs.

(Thanks to Kazumi Hatasato - clear.msu.edu:16080/ dennie/clipart/ for allowing me use of his clipart)

Stoll ST and Mitra MM
Post-traumatic headache of cervical origin
The AAO Journal: A Publication of the American Academy of Osteopathy 2002 Fal;12(3):38-41

Case report of a middle age man suffering from posttraumatic headaches. The patient was diagnosed with neck pain and left shoulder strain. Osteopathic manipulation was used to relieve the strains and headaches.

Flotildes KL , Caughlin PM , and Stouch B
The evaluation of the effect of osteopathic manipulative techniques (OMT) on headache

JAOA: The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 2001 Aug;101(8):474

Findings suggest that OMT is effective in relieving pain due to sinus and tension headache symptoms.

(Thanks to Natalie Dee - http://www.nataliedee.com/oldnov2002.php for allowing me use of her graphic)

Parikh AS , Coughlin PM , Nicholas AS , and Stewart PE
Evaluation of the effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on headache pain: single modality pain reduction. JAOA: The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 1999 Aug;99(8):422

This randomized, clinical outcomes pilot study was designed to determine the effectiveness of OMT in alleviating the pain associated with headaches. Three types of headache were assessed in the study: tension, migraine, and sinus. The results indicate that OMT provides significant immediate pain relief when compared to sham treatment. It was observed that migraine headaches relieved headache pain to the greatest degree in terms of percentage of pain reduction as reported by study subjects.